Trace Elements in West Virginia Coals

GADOLINIUM (Gd)

Gadolinium is one of the rare earth elements (REE) present in West Virginia
coals with little environmental impact.

Geologic Distribution: Gadolinium occurs in minor amounts in
the trace minerals monazite and allanite 1.
Monazite was found in trace amounts in 22 of 24 coal samples examined using
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in an
unpublished study by the WVGES. Mean gadolinium abundance in West Virginia
coals was 1.46 ppm. Gadolinium statistically correlated poorly with
ash yield, but correlated with elements common to monazite, dysprosium
(Dy), neodymium (Nd), erbium (Er) and yttrium (Y), and several ash related
elements: scandium (Sc) , chromium (Cr) and zirconium (Zr). Gadolinium
shows generally less than 2 ppm on a whole coal basis with no discernible
stratigraphic or areal trends in abundance representing the ubiquitous
distribution of monazite in West Virginia coals.

Economic Impact: Gadolinium in coal has no economic impact. Gadolinium
is used to make phosphors for color TV tubes, and gadolinium yttrium garnets
used in microwave applications 2.